84 year old Jean becomes first in Somerset to get new Covid vaccine

The hospital is part of the initial wave of 50 hospital hubs providing the first vaccinations across the country.

Today it begun vaccinating people from the most vulnerable groups - which includes patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient.

Also those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, and care home staff who look after some of the most vulnerable people in Somerset.

Any appointments not used for the initial groups at the hospital will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

Yeovil Hospital’s Chief Nurse, Shelagh Meldrum, said “As one of the country’s designated hospital hubs we are proud to be part of the biggest and most highly anticipated immunisation campaigns in history.

“Thanks to an incredible amount of hard work and planning with staff and all health and care partners across the county, we have been able to start the vaccination programme in Somerset with the priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

Andy Heron, joint senior responsible officer for the mass vaccination programme in Somerset, said: “This is an incredibly important day for us in Somerset as we begin vaccinating the highest priority groups in our county.

“Making the Covid-19 vaccination available is one of the most important health interventions of recent years and the NHS, primary and social care, the council and the voluntary sector are working together to roll out the programme in Somerset in a phased way, in line with national guidance.”

Jean Cook, age 84, from Yeovil, who became one of the first patients to have their vaccination in Somerset, said: “I’m so pleased to be one of the first people in the world to receive this vaccine. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to get vaccinated when it is offered to them, so we can start getting back to normal and put this pandemic behind us."

Further plans for the local NHS vaccination programme are currently being drawn up, to ensure that the wider population across Somerset can access the vaccine in line with national guidance and as vaccine is available.

This includes delivering it in a number of locations to enable easier access for as many people as possible, including large county sites, community sites in locations across the county, hospital hubs, some GP surgeries and via teams of mobile vaccinators for those who cannot leave their homes.

Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health at Somerset County Council added “It’s great news that the first Somerset residents and health and care workers are receiving Covid vaccinations this week. We are working closely with health colleagues to roll out the vaccination programme across Somerset, which will run from now into 2021."

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